originally published June 18, 2008

All in a Hot and Copper Sky: Barely had last week's Flagpole hit the streets, containing a brief summary of what might be termed the inaugural summer-season press release from State Climatologist David Stooksbury, than Stooksbury sent out another press release, this one dated June 11 and opening with the declaration that "extreme" drought conditions had spread across northeast Georgia - to counties like Clarke, where but a week before we were merely in "severe" drought. Right: it doesn't take a rocket (or climate) scientist to know that a heat wave like the one we had recently can't be healthy, but then again you have to figure there are things that a climatologist understands better than you and I do. Example: "Across northeast Georgia soil moisture is near the 95th percentile," Stooksbury writes. "At the 95th percentile soil moisture levels would be higher 95 out of 100 years in middle June."

Well, okay, that sounds bad. But just how bad is probably one of those things that we citizens will only learn as this particular drought year progresses. The fear, of course, is that we'll reach a point where we're worse off now than we were this time last year. Or maybe we're already there?

---

Also in Season: Last week's Flagpole also contained a note, this one in "Adopt Me," about the over-full status of the cat shelter at the Athens Area Humane Society. It's kitten season, of course, and the place is overrun, as are the foster homes that help it deal with the annual influx of felines. And here's the thing: the humane society is making a big effort this year to continue building on the huge improvements it made last year in reducing the number of cats that have to be put down in this town. So no, it's not just the spike in kitten numbers that has the place overtaxed; it's also an attempt on the organization's part to do the right thing. If you can help 'em out, do so. And in future: spay and neuter.

---

In the News: Back in April Flagpole ran a story about the fact that law enforcement personnel from nearby counties have been seen to "dump" homeless people here in Athens. The Banner-Herald has covered the story too, and earlier this month it even hit the pages of the Atlanta Journal-Constitution. In a meeting not long after, Mayor Heidi Davison was heard to say about the AJC story, "I thought that article was completely overblown - made a lot of hay over what I know to be one incident." That incident was one involving a Barrow County official that she got a call about a couple of years ago. The Mayor added, though, "That's not to say the problem isn't bigger, and I'm just not aware of it." Still, point taken: Let's keep things in perspective here.

---

Dear Gov. Perdue: And here's a little news bit that puts into perspective the stance toward gun-ownership regulations recently displayed by Georgia's General Assembly and Governor. The Brady Center to Prevent Gun Violence recently analyzed some fresh federal data and concluded that Georgia, Florida and Texas are the "top suppliers of crime guns to other states," together accounting for a fifth of all crime guns moved across state lines (and known to do so by law enforcement) in 2007. The point is that, as the Brady Center put it, "Illegal guns generally flow from states with weak gun laws to states with stronger gun laws." So, from Georgia to the rest of the Union, all we can say is "you're welcome." Isn't that nice?

---

On the Local Scene: Athens' Transportation and Public Works Department recently held a forum for citizens to view the plans for the intersection where Old Lexington Road veers off of Barnett Shoals Road. Some Eastsiders would have preferred to see a roundabout, or traffic circle, instead of a conventional stoplight to fix congestion problems there, but ACC Commissioners narrowly voted that option down last year, and a T-intersection with a stoplight will be built there instead. Some commissioners feared a roundabout would confuse local drivers, or that it might eventually have to be expanded to handle increased traffic. But it was recommended by a county-paid consultant, and got serious consideration. Common in Europe, roundabouts allow traffic to keep moving through an intersection of two or more streets without ever stopping, and are statistically safer.

But Athens may yet get a roundabout - or even more than one, ACC traffic engineer Steve Decker says. A roundabout is planned as part of a "huge" commercial/residential development off Atlanta highway, he tells Flagpole. And one will be considered for the Tallassee Road/ Whitehead Road intersection (which will be redesigned in the next year to relieve congestion). Roundabouts take up more space on the ground than stoplights, but Decker says they can handle a 15,000–20,000-car daily traffic count - typical of a fairly busy street like Milledge Avenue. [John Huie]

---

It's Sneaking Right Up: Last, but certainly not least, City Dope is counting on you to help him prep for the June 30 candidate debate being put on by the Athens Press Club. On stage that night will be Rep. Paul Broun, Jr. and his challenger Barry Fleming, plus state Senator Bill Cowsert and his challenger Tommy Malcolm. The invitation is still wide open: email your questions for the candidates to ben@flagpole.com.

Along those lines, some of the local Democrats are hosting Georgia's Democratic candidates for U.S. Senate at a forum scheduled for Thursday, June 19 from 7 to 9 p.m. in Masters Hall at the Georgia Center for Continuing Education. At press time, they had everybody but DeKalb County CEO Vernon Jones on board, which is pretty good.

Ben Emanuel

Send your city dope to ben@flagpole.com.